Updated Friday, September 4, 2026, ahead of the Texas State opener. Steve Sarkisian does not release an official depth chart until game day, so this is the projected two deep based on camp reporting. It is updated once the official chart is out and after every game.
No. 5 Texas opens Sarkisian’s sixth season with Arch Manning in his second year as the starter, a receiver room that may be the best in program history, and a defensive line that goes ten deep. Twelve of the 29 projected starters are transfers, the highest share of the Sarkisian era.
Offense
| Position | Starter | Backup | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Arch Manning (16), Sr. | KJ Lacey Jr. (9), So. | Dia Bell (6), Fr. |
| RB | Hollywood Smothers (2), Sr. OR Raleek Brown (0), Sr. | Derrek Cooper (5), Fr. | Ryan Niblett (21), Sr. |
| WR (X) | Cam Coleman (8), Jr. | Kaliq Lockett (7), So. | — |
| WR (Z) | Ryan Wingo (1), Jr. | Sterling Berkhalter (18), Sr. | Kohen Brown (13), Fr. |
| WR (H) | Emmett Mosley V (3), Jr. | Jermaine Bishop Jr. (4), Fr. OR Daylan McCutcheon (17), So. | — |
| TE (Y) | Michael Masunas (15), Sr. | Spencer Shannon (83), Sr. | Charlie Jilek (88), Fr. |
| TE (H) | Nick Townsend (81), So. | Emaree Winston (85), So. | Will Randle (87), Sr. |
| LT | Trevor Goosby (74), Sr. (knee) | Andre Cojoe (77), Sr. | Jordan Coleman (78), So. |
| LG | Laurence Seymore III (50), Sr. | Dylan Sikorski (56), Jr. | Cole Hutson (54) OR Jackson Christian (76) |
| C | Connor Robertson (62), Sr. | Jackson Christian (76), So. | Cole Hutson (54) OR Devin Coleman (58) |
| RG | Brandon Baker (73), Jr. | Jaydon Chatman (75), Sr. | Devin Coleman (58), So. |
| RT | Melvin Siani (71), Sr. | Jonte Newman (79), So. | Kaden Scherer (70), Fr. |
Defense
| Position | Starter | Backup | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT | Ian Geffrard (95), Sr. | Maraad Watson (88), Jr. | Josiah Sharma (90), So. |
| DT | Hero Kanu (93), Sr. | Justus Terry (15), So. | James Johnson (52), Fr. |
| DT | Alex January (97), Jr. | Myron Charles (33), So. | — |
| Jack (EDGE) | Colin Simmons (1), Jr. | Richard Wesley (99), Fr. | Colton Vasek (92), Sr. |
| DE | Lance Jackson (40), So. | Zina Umeozulu (19), Jr. | Jamarion Carlton (94), Fr. |
| WLB | Rasheem Biles (3), Sr. | Darius Snow (45), Sr. | Rocky Cummings (30), Fr. |
| MLB | Justin Cryer (28), Sr. | Brad Spence (14), Sr. | Tyler Atkinson (16), Fr. |
| SLB | Brad Spence (14), Sr. | Kosi Okpala (18), Fr. | Colton Vasek (92), Sr. |
| Nickel | Graceson Littleton (29), So. | Xavier Filsaime (17), Jr. | Wardell Mack (27), Jr. |
| CB | Kade Phillips (8), So. | Samari Matthews (11), Fr. | John Meredith III (0), Fr. |
| CB | Bo Mascoe (5), Sr. | Warren Roberson (24), Sr. | Nick Hudson (36), Sr. |
| FS | Jelani McDonald (4), Sr. | Jonah Williams (9), So. | Toray Davis (25), Fr. |
| SS | Derek Williams Jr. (2), Sr. | Kobe Black (6), Jr. | Jordon Johnson-Rubell (23), Jr. |
Special Teams
| K | Gianni Spetic (44), Sr.; Spencer Barnett (46) backup |
| P | Mac Chiumento (43), Sr.; Mikey Bukauskas (45) backup |
| PR | Ryan Niblett (21); Raleek Brown (0), Daylan McCutcheon (17) |
| KR | Raleek Brown (0) and Jermaine Bishop Jr. (4); Derrek Cooper (5) and Ryan Niblett (21) |
Position Breakdown
Quarterback. Manning enters year two as the starter after a 10-3 season and is the preseason Heisman favorite by most measures. Sophomore KJ Lacey Jr. beat out true freshman Dia Bell for the backup job; transfer MJ Morris is the fourth option.
Running back. Texas used two back personnel in both camp scrimmages, which is why Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown are listed as co-starters. Smothers is the favorite to take the first carry. Freshman Derrek Cooper is the third back and a kickoff returner.
Receiver. The top three are set: Cam Coleman on the outside, Ryan Wingo at Z, Emmett Mosley V in the slot. Sterling Berkhalter, freshman Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Daylan McCutcheon are the rotation behind them. Sophomore Kaliq Lockett is buried at X for now but is a name to watch.
Offensive line. The one injury question is left tackle Trevor Goosby (knee). If he cannot go against Texas State, Andre Cojoe starts and Jordan Coleman becomes the third tackle. The interior is settled with transfers Laurence Seymore III and Connor Robertson flanking Brandon Baker, and Jaydon Chatman, Jackson Christian, Cole Hutson and Dylan Sikorski as the top reserves.
Defensive line. The deepest unit on the roster. Texas lists three interior spots (nose plus two tackles) and rotates the top two at each, which means Ian Geffrard, Maraad Watson, Hero Kanu, Justus Terry, Alex January and Myron Charles all play. Terry had the best camp of anyone on the team. Colin Simmons is the Jack, with true freshman Richard Wesley behind him.
Linebacker. The thinnest group. Rasheem Biles, a Pitt transfer, is the projected All SEC player at Will. Justin Cryer starts in the middle with Brad Spence at Sam, and Spence is also Cryer’s primary backup. Colton Vasek plays situationally at both EDGE and Sam.
Secondary. Kade Phillips and Bo Mascoe are the corners, Graceson Littleton is the nickel, and Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr. start at safety with Kobe Black and Jonah Williams rotating in. True freshman Samari Matthews is already the No. 2 corner on one side.
Injuries and Notes
Trevor Goosby (knee) is the only starter in doubt for Week 1. Ty’Anthony Smith, who was competing at linebacker in camp, was dismissed from the program in August and is not on the roster. The official depth chart is expected to be released Saturday before kickoff; this page is updated when it is.
The Bottom Line
Texas returns its quarterback and rebuilt everything around him through the portal: a dozen transfer starters, a deep defensive front, and one real injury question at left tackle. The schedule is on our Texas schedule page and the opener is previewed at Texas State vs. Texas. Bookmark this page; it is updated after every depth chart release and every game.